Liga MX side Tigres repeats as champion of the prestigious Gordon Jago Super Group

DALLAS, Texas (Sunday, Apr. 21) – The Dr Pepper Dallas Cup, the oldest and most prestigious international youth soccer tournament in the United States, concluded today at Toyota Stadium in Frisco. The champions of the Gordon Jago Super Group, Under 19, Under 18, Under 17, Under 16, and Under 12 divisions were determined, capping off the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup’s 40th Anniversary Tournament.

Gordon Jago Super Group Championship

Championship Sunday was highlighted by the Gordon Jago Super Group final between La Liga’s Villarreal CF and defending Super Group champions Tigres. The match was broadcast live from Toyota Stadium at 3pm on Univision Deportes Network, the No. 1 Spanish-language cable sports channel in the nation.

On a warm, breezy afternoon in north Texas, Villarreal CF and Tigres both created chances in the opposing zone for the bulk of the first half. The match remained scoreless, however, until the 41st minute. Diego Raya, who scored two goals in the semi-final against NYCFC on Friday, sliced his way through the Tigres defense with some nifty dribbling and tucked the ball to the far post, putting The Yellow Submarine in front 1-0.

With the game at 1-0, Tigres began to apply relentless pressure on the Villarreal back line in the final twenty minutes of regulation. In the 80th minute, Tigres’ attack paid off, as Enrique Prieto scored with a brilliant, first-touch finish in the box. The final whistle blew with the score tied at 1-1, and the match was sent to extra time.

The match remained locked at 1-1 following twenty minutes of bonus time and the game was sent to penalty kicks to determine a champion. Tigres’ keeper Gustavo Galindo made three acrobatic saves and Tigres won the penalty kick shootout 3-0.

Tigres’ win on Sunday marks their fourth Super Group championship (2013, 2011, 2018, 2019), the most all-time, and they became the first team to repeat as Super Group champions since 2004-2005 (Clube Atletico Paranense).

Under 19 Championship

Dr Pepper Dallas Cup’ 40th Anniversary Tournament wrapped up with a battle between California’s FC Golden State White and Houston Dynamo Academy for the Under 19 Championship at 5:15pm. The match saw box-to-box action, but neither side was able to scratch the scoreboard in the first half. In the 54th minute, Houston Dynamo’s Jalen Anderson slotted away the first goal of the match thanks to a beautiful pass from Jaden Servania into the box. FC Golden State would strike back in the 64th minute. After some nice team play down the wing, a cross was driven into the box, landing at the foot of Alan Santos who slid the ball into the back of the net. Eight minutes later, Pedro da Silva scored a spectacular solo goal after dribbling along the bi-line to put FC Golden State in front 2-1. Late in stoppage time, Houston Dynamo was awarded a penalty kick. Heriberto Soto stepped up to the spot and calmly tucked the ball into the left side of the net, leveling the game at 2-2, thus sending the game into a penalty kick shootout. All five players converted from the penalty spot for FC Golden State, winning the shootout 5-4, as the Californian side won their second consecutive Under 19 title.

Under 18 Championship

The third match of the day at Toyota Stadium was a matchup between FC Dallas Youth Premier and Maplebrook Elite out of Minnesota. FC Dallas Youth Premier’s Jose Ortiz opened up the scoring in the 33rd minute with a beautiful flick to himself in the box, followed by a smash into the back of the net off the volley. Right before the halftime break, Maplebrook’s Patrick Weah headed home a goal after a cross from Eric Smits to level the game at 1-1. In the 58th minute, Maplebrook’s Isaac Eckroth added a second goal from a beautiful, curling free kick from well outside the box to put the team from Minnesota ahead 2-1. In the 81st minute, Tayeb Benjaafar added an insurance goal, putting Maplebrook Elite in front 3-1. FC Dallas Youth Premier’s Jose Ortiz, who scored twelve goals during the 2019 Dallas Cup, scored his second goal of the game in stoppage time, but it was a little too late for the local side. Maplebrook Elite hoisted the U18 “Boot and Ball” championship trophy, becoming the first team from Minnesota to win a Dallas Cup title.

Under 17 Championship

The Under 17 Final between Mexico’s Queretaro FC and Phoenix Rising FC kicked off at 10:30am from Toyota Stadium. Marcos Mora scored the opening goal of the match for the team out of Arizona in the 34th minute. After a giant throw into the box from nearly 40 yards out, a flicked header found Mora at the far post who headed in the first goal of the match. The game remained 1-0 until late in regulation when Queretaro’s Iker Ortega left his mark. In the 86th minute, a well-swung cross into the box found the head of Ortega who connected on the equalizing goal. Both sides created chances in the waning minutes of regulation, but the match was sent into penalty kicks with the score at 1-1. Phoenix Rising’s keeper Gregory Squire made two saves in the penalty shootout, and Phoenix Rising FC was named the 2019 Dallas Cup Under 17 Champion.

Under 16 Championship

The Under 16 Dallas Cup champion was decided this morning in a matchup between north Texas side Solar SC and Toronto FC Academy. Goals were hard to come by in this one, as the match remained scoreless into the second half. In the 64th minute, Toronto FC’s Kosi Thompson broke the tie, blasting a shot into the right side of the net. The Thompson goal proved to be the lone goal of the match as Toronto FC Academy claimed the U15 title. Toronto FC Academy is just the fifth team from Canada to win a “Boot and Ball” trophy, and the first since 1988.

Under 12 Championship

The Under 12 championship between Toronto FC Academy and FC Dallas Academy South was played this morning at the Toyota Soccer Center at 11am. Lucas Lima scored the first goal of the match for Toronto FC. Dylan Vanney added a brace with goals in the 55th and 58th minute for Toronto FC. The match finished with the score of 3-0, as Toronto FC U12 Academy joined their Under 16 academy side on the list of 2019 Dr Pepper Dallas Cup champions.